Shipping crate



June 12, 1928.

1,673,168 E. A. TROUTMAN SHIPPING CRATE Filed Feb. 28, 1927 y2 sheets-sheet l @How mi; o

June 12, 1928. 1,673,168

E. A. TROUTMAN SHIPPING CRATE Filed Feb. 28, 1927 l 2 SheetvS-Sheet 2 alto/omega Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES EDWARD A. TROUTMAN, OF CIMARRON, NEW MEXICO.

SHIPPING CRATE.

Y Application filed February 28, 1927. Serial No. 171,667.

The present invention has reference to shipping cases and more particularly to shipping cases especially designed for use in shipping perishable fruits, vegetables or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a shippingA case which may be disassembled and returned to the shipper in a flat condition, thereby reducing the cost of transportation in returning the case, to the minimum.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a metallic shipping case, novel means being provided for holding the case in its extended condition to insure against the contents thereof becoming bruised to decrease the value of the contents of the case.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a shipping case constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a. vertical sectional view through the shipping case.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a plan view illustrating the case in a disassembled condition.

Figure 8 is a view illustrating one of the heads of the case.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the case includes a body port-ion indicated generally by the reference character 5, the same being constructed preferably of sheet metal, the same being provided with crimped end portions 6 which defined recesses 7 adjacent to the ends of the body portion, for the reception of the heads 8 that are positioned in the ends of the case, to close the ends of the case.

One of the ends of the blank or length of sheet metal of which the body portion is constructed, is offset as at 9 so that when the ends are brought together in overlapping relation with each other, the inner surface of the case will be smooth, no shoulders being formed at the ends of the blank to bruise the fruit or material in the case.

Formed on the inner surface of the body portion at a point adjacent to one end of the blank, is a wedge-shaped lug 9 adapted to lit in the substantially V-shaped cut out portion 10 formed in the adjacent end of the blank when the ends of the blank are brought into overlapping relation with each other in the formation of a case.

Upper and lower fingers 10 are provided on the blank adjacent to the ends thereof,

the lingers acting as stops to Contact with the ends of the body portion when the body portion is bentl in the formation of a case.

Bolts 11 pass through the overlapping ends of the body portion and act as means for securing the overlapping ends of the body portion together. Grooves indicated at 12 are formed adjacent to the upper and lower ends of the case, there being provided a similar groove 13 formed in the outer surface of the case, at a point intermediate the upper and lower ends of the case, which grooves -are designed to receive and hold the wire hoops 14 which act as means to prevent spreading of the body portion vunder the weight of the contents of the case.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to this construction, the bolts 11 may be re-'v moved releasing the ends of the body portion and allowing the body portion to be flattened out for return shipment.

It will further be seen that due to this construction, an exceptionally rigid shipping case is provided and one which will insure lagainst the fruit or materials shipped therein being damaged in transit.

I claim:

In a shipping crate, a length of sheet metal bent to provide a cylindrical body portion, removable disks to be positioned in the ends of the body portion and defining heads, a wedge-shaped lug formed on the inner surface of the body portion, the opposite edge of the length of sheet metal having :i V- shaped out out portion adapted to receive the Wedge-shaped lug to guide the edges of the length of sheet metal together, fingers ex-V tending from the inner surface of the crate adjacent to one edge thereof and adapted tol 'overlie portions of the opposite edge oi the plete, and means for securing the ends of the body portion together.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn,'I have hereto affixed my signature. EDWARD A. 'TROUTMAN. 

